Solons OKs CCMC to use BFP Building

Despite of the conflict between Mayor Michael Rama and the officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Cebu City Council allowed the use of the fire department building as temporary city hospital.

The city legislators authorized the officials of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) to apply for the renewal of the permit from the Department of Health to operate a temporary medical facility at the fire department building along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson, head of the City Council’s committee on health and hospital services, explained that every year the CCMC is required to secure a permit from the DOH for the operation of a hospital.

After the structural and civil engineers discovered some cracks in the CCMC building’s walls and posts after the earthquake last October 15, they gave an opinion that the building may collapse if it will be hit by another strong quake.

It prompted Mayor Michael Rama to decide not to use the existing CCMC building and ordered the fire officials to leave from their location so that it can be used as temporary medical facility.

While the members of the Cebu City Fire Station heeded the mayor’s order to transfer to Parian Fire Station, the personnel directly under Regional Fire Marshall Ma. Luisa Hadjula ignored the mayor’s instruction.

Hadjula claimed that they were ordered by the BFP Central Office not to abandon the entire building and threatened to file the necessary charges against the mayor. The city owns the lot, but the building was constructed by the BFP.

“We interpose no objection to temporary operation of CCMC at BFP-7. However, the committee leaves the court to decide the issue about property ownership,” said Councilor Gerardo Carillo.

Councilor Japson explained that CCMC needs to authorize the operation of the temporary hospital to continue operation next year because the permit would expire on January.